Ice dispensing and vending machine



July 23, 1968 D. c. PARR 3,393,531

ICE DISPENSING AND VENDING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 24, 1966 W0): ,J'WM b'a/mvww 7 m July 23, 1968 Filed Oct. 24, 1966 D. c. PARR 3,393,531

ICE DISPENSING AND VENDING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 N l '1 T fi j L i 2 L 1 L L L dame/21w 7% July 23, 1968 D. c. PARR ICE DISPENSING AND VENDING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 24, 1966 United States Patent 3,393,531 ICE DISPENSING AND VENDING MACHINE Douglas Cameron Parr, London, England, assignor to Flugel and Company (London) Limited, London, England, a corporation of the United Kingdom Filed Oct. 24, 1966, Ser. No. 589,052 16 Claims. (Cl. 62353) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure is directed to an ice making and dispensing machine having a freezing block provided with a series of relatively shallow ice setting compartments, and ejector members for releasing ice blocks from each compartment. The ejector members are a plurality of groups of radial arms carried by a rotatable spindle with the groups being angularly offset relative to each other and with a radial arm of each group being similarly angularly offset relative to remaining radial arms of the same group.

Present day ice making machines such as are available are of the kind comprising a tubular container which is cooled externally to develop freezing temperatures so that water falling on the interior wall surface will be converted into a layer of ice which is removed by means of an auger device. Such ice making machines suffer from the disadvantage that not only are they bulky, but the ice produced is of a flaky character and in addition it has to be stored, prior to use, which leads to difficulties as the pieces of ice tend to conglomerate.

The method of making relatively small, referred to hereinafter as mini-size, blocks of ice of predetermined size consists in introducing measured amounts of water into the compartments of a shallow tray forming part of or one wall of a thermal block, through which a freezing medium is circulated and extracting the blocks, when formed, from the compartments in selected ones or groups according to the quantity of ice required by applying pres sure successively to the blocks or each block in a group so that the initial effort to break down the ice bond and dislodge the block from its compartment remains a minimum.

According to the present invention also an ice making and dispensing unit comprises a freezing block or body in which the trays are replenished with water from individual filling points, supply of water being controlled by means operated in timed relation to discharge of the ice blocks.

We have found that by making use of a thermal block having a number of relatively shallow compartments, which are preferably radiused in the direction of their length in conjunction with ejection means in the form of a bar having a number of axially spaced, radially extending arms which are angularly staggered, the bar being mounted to revolve through a controlled angle to eject the selected block or blocks, that mini-size ice blocks can readily be dispensed for immediate use, i.e. served to a person requiring an iced drink.

In order to assist in breakage of the bond between the ice and the bottom and side Walls of the compartment on movement of the ejection member therethrough, the side walls are angled so that there is an increase in width of the compartment in the direction of discharge and preferably also the side walls are angled from bottom to top of each wall so as to give a tendency for the block to lift when ejected. In practice it has been found that an angular increase in width from back to front of 2 gives satisfactory results and for the vertical taper any angle substantially in excess of 2 gives rise for a tendency of the blocks to lift due to expansion of the ice on freezing.

The ejection means may consist of a spindle having a number of radially projecting arms which are staggered so that in operation the arms successively move through the compartments in order to reduce the initial load when breaking the bond between a particular ice block and its compartment to a minimum. Preferably the ejector arms are arranged in two groups so that the arms in the one group are located at to those in the other series.

In order to prevent the conduction of heat from the block to the spindle carrying the ejector arms the bearings in which the spindle is mounted to revolve are insulated from the block and for this purpose they may be mounted in bracket arms formed of plastic material.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

FIGURE 1 is a perspective diagrammatic view of an ice maker for production of mini-size ice blocks by means of a unit having a series of moulds forming part of a thermal sink block or body,

FIGURES 2 and 3 are respectively a plan and underside view of a thermal block for use in the ice maker of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 4 is a transverse section and FIGURE 5 an end view thereof,

FIGURE 6 is a detail section of a mould compartment,

FIGURES 7 and 8 are respectively an elevation and end view showing a modified design of an ejector bar, and

FIGURE 9 shows a representative electrical control circuit which can be used to practice the invention.

Referring to the drawings the ice maker of this invention essentially comprises a body in the form of a hollow rectangular block indicated generally at 1, formed of thermally conductive material including side Walls 2 and 3, and a top wall 4 which is arcuate in section so as to form a shallow tray, the tray being sub-divided by means of partition walls 5 into a number of shallow compartments 6 within which the ice blocks are moulded.

Each compartment is shallower at its ends than at the mid-point, i.e. it slopes downwardly from its entrant end to a mid-point and decreases in depth towards the end through which the blocks are ejected as described below. Preferably each compartment is radiused in the direction of its length.

Provision is made for filling each of the mould compartments 6 with water through individual supply pipes, 15, 15, of which there are two as hereinafter explained, the pipes having discharged jets 16 spaced lengthwise of the pipe in order to register with their respective compartments 6. The water is admitted to the pipes 15, 15 through inlets 17 connected to a source of supply.

Ejection of the ice blocks is effected by means of a number of radially extending arms 20 consisting of fiat blades, fast on a spindle 21 which is mounted to revolve. Each of the blades 20 is of a length such that on rotation of the spindle the end of the blade sweeps through an arcuate path just clear of the radiused bottom indicated at 22 in FIGURE 5, of its associated compartment, the transverse width of the blade being slightly less than the width of the compartment so as to provide wall clearance.

The spindle 21 is journalled to revolve in suitable bearings 23 in brackets 24 attached to opposite end walls of block 1, the brackets 24 being formed of plates of nonconducting material so as to prevent loss of heat by conductance from the block 1 to the exterior and also from exerting a cooling action on the water feed pipes 15 and jet 16 through which the water flow takes place to enable the water in the respective compartments to be replenished.

In order to reduce the load on the spindle 21, the ejector blades 20 are angularly staggered in relation to each other and in the embodiment illustrated are arranged in two groups A and B, the blades in group A being located circumferentially of spindle 21 at an angle of 180 to those in group B. It will be seen that there are four blades in each group so that in operation on angular displacement of the spindle 21 the blades successively engage the ice blocks in the four compartments in the one group and eject four blocks in succession. On ejection the compartments will automatically be filled with water to the required level and assuming another dispense of blocks is required, the spindle will again be started up to eject the blocks in group B, while those in group A having been replenished will freeze again.

The capacity of each or a selected number of the trays 6 is determined in relation to the quantity of ice required to ice cool the contents of say a half pint tumbler or a wine glass. Clearly the number of compartments in a group may be varied, but it has been found convenient to make use of two groups of 180 each having four compartments so that the blocks are comparatively small thereby reducing the initial load on each blade and the power required to drive the spindle.

The size of the ice blocks and thus the capacity of the mould compartments is also dependent upon the rate of heat transfer from the block to the water and considering the tray as a single or two separate freezing units, one being emptied while the water in the other freezes, by providing partition walls, the amount of heat conducted from the block to the respective compartments will be relatively increased as compared with a block having only say two compartments to each group with of course corresponding increase in the width of the block and/or depth of the compartment.

Drive to the spindle 21 is from a small H.P. electric motor (not shown) through suitable reduction gear, the casing therefor being indicated diagrammatically at 25 in FIGURE 1. Starting and stopping of the motor may be manually by a push button controlled circuit or automatically by coin actuated mechanism.

In order to assist in breaking down the bond between the ice and the wall surface of the compartment, the compartments increase in width from the rear or entry end 27 for the ejector blade to their forward end 28 (FIGURE 2) and in the embodiment illustrated where the compartments measure approximately /2" x 3", the angle subtended between the side walls is approximately 2. In addition (see FIGURE 6) the side walls may be angled so that they are slightly narrower at the bottom.

In practice it has been found that a taper of 2 from front to back gives satisfactory results and as regards the vertical taper any angle substantially in excess of 2 gives rise for a tendency of the blocks to lift due to expansion of the ice.

The ice forming blocks is preferably of rectangular formation and is so designed as to possess substantial mass over a comparatively small area to enable the latent heat stored in the block to be used in addition to the direct freezing action of the refrigeration fluid to produce ice by conducted heat.

Referring now to FIGURE 7, there is shown a spindle wherein the two sets of ejector blades are each in the form of a single blade 30 subdivided by shoulders 31 and edge slits 32 into separate blade elements.

The ice making machine of this invention is particularly adapted for use in conjunction with a push button or coin actuated mechanism so that on depression of a push button switch 49 or the like of a circuit 50 the drive motor is started up to impart drive to the spindle 21 through reduction gearing 40, the motor being indicated at 41. In such a push button or coin actuated mechanism the spindle 21 carries three cams, 42, 43, 44, associated with which are microswitches 42', 43', 44, forming part of the circuit 50, each controlled by a feeler arm 45 which are actuated by their respective cams 42-44.

The cam 42 and its switch 42' control the operation of the motor 41 such that on compression of the push button .9 it will override the switch 42 which is arranged to control a single ice making cycle and to set into operation the spindle 21 so that it makes one half a revolution. It will be seen that the cam 42 has dwell portions 46 so arranged that when the feeler arm 45 contacts the dwell portions the motor switch is moved to the off position and the machine stops until such time as the push button (or, where coin actuated release is provided, the insertion of a coin) operates a corresponding control switch to start up the motor by short-circuiting the switch to start the motor.

The micro switches 43, 44' respectively control the water inlet to the pipes 15, 15' when both pipes will be open to the supply of water; the inlets 17, 17' are each provided with a solenoid for opening and closing valves indicated generally at 48. Thus the switch 43 provides a timed pulse for each half revolution of the spindle 21 during which time water is made available while the third switch 44" provides a further timed pulse which is transmitted to the solenoids controlling either valve 48 so that the latter will be opened for a period sufficient to admit a measured quantity of water sufiicient to replenish the one or other of the two sets of compartments 6 with water from which ice has previously been expelled.

What is claimed is:

1. An ice making and dispensing machine comprising a freezing block formed of thermally conductive material, said block having an internal chamber for circulation of a freezing medium therein and provided externally with a series of relatively shallow open top setting compartments, means for circulating a freezing medium through the chamber within said block whereby in operation the block functions as a heat sink and the water content of a compartment will become frozen by heat transfer from and through the block to form ice blocks, means for releasing the ice blocks including ejector members one associated with each compartment, means mounting said ejector members for movement into engagement with the ice blocks to effect release and ejection, said releasing means comprising a spindle having a plurality of groups of radial arms defining said ejector members with a plurality of radial arms in each group, and said groups being angularly ofiset relative to each other whereby upon the rotation of said spindle first one and then a succeeding group of said radial arms remove ice blocks from said compartments.

2. The ice making and dispensing machine as defined in claim 1 including means for replenishing the water content of each compartment upon the ejection of the ice block therefrom.

3. The ice making and dispensing machine as defined in claim 1 wherein the radial arms in each group are angularly offset from each other whereby the ice blocks are ejected successively in groups.

4. The ice making and dispensing machine as defined in claim 1 including drive means for imparting rotation to said spindle, and said drive means includes means for arresting rotation of the spindle upon the ejection of a group of the blocks by one of the plurality of groups of radial arms.

5. The ice making and dispensing machine as defined in claim 1 including drive means for imparting rotation to said spindle, said drive means includes means for arresting rotation of the spindle upon the ejection of a group of the blocks by one of the plurality of groups of radial arms, said drive means includes an electric motor coupled through reduction gearing, and a start and stop mechanism including an electric circuit having a pushbutton actuated control switch for initiating an ejection cycle.

6. The ice making and dispensing machine as defined in claim 1 including drive means for imparting rotation to said spindle, said drive means including means for arresting rotation of the spindle upon the ejection of a group of the blocks by one of the plurality of groups of radial arms, said drive means includes an electric motor coupled through reduction gearing to said spindle, and a start and stop mechanism including an electric circuit having a pushbutton actuated control switch for initiating an ejection cycle, said pushbutton control switch is arranged to energize the motor circuit and comprises means operative upon a predetermined angular displacement of the spindle to break the motor circuit.

7. The ice making and dispensing machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said freezing chamber includes inner wall surfaces formed with fins to increase the area of the heat exchange surface, said fins extend longitudinally of said chamber, and starting ends of said fins are alternately arranged at opposite ends so that the freezing medium is constrained to follow a zig-zag path.

8. The ice making and dispensing machine as defined in claim 1 wherein the radial arms of each group are formed of a single integral piece of material.

9. The ice making and dispensing machine as defined in claim 3 wherein the arms of each group are formed of a single integral piece of material.

10. The ice making and dispensing machine as defined in claim 3 including drive means for imparting rotation to said spindle, and said drive means includes means for arresting rotation of the spindle upon the ejection of a group of the blocks by one of the plurality of groups of radial arms.

11. The ice making and dispensing machine as defined in claim 3 including drive means for imparting rotation to said spindle, said drive means includes means for arresting rotation of the spindle upon the ejection of a group of the blocks by one of the plurality of groups of radial arms, and said drive means includes an electric motor coupled through reduction gearing to said spindle, and a start and stop mechanism including an electric circuit having a pushbutton actuated control switch for initiating an ejection cycle.

12. The ice making and dispensing machine as defined in claim 3 including drive means for imparting rotation to said spindle, said drive means includes means for arresting rotation of the spindle upon the ejection of a group of the blocks by one of the plurality of groups of radial arms, and said drive means includes an electric motor coupled through reduction gearing to said spindle, and a start and stop mechanism including an electric circuit having a pushbutton actuated control switch for initiating an ejection cycle, said pushbutton control switch is arranged to energize the motor circuit and comprises means operative upon a predetermined angular displacement of the spindle to break the motor circuit.

13. The ice making and dispensing machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said compartments are defined in part by partition walls formed with angled surfaces such that the distance between the walls of each compartment increases toward the discharge end thereof to facilitate the release of the ice blocks.

14. The ice making and dispensing machine as defined in claim 1 wherein the compartments are defined by a plurality of transverse partition walls and bottom walls between the partition walls, and each bottom wall opens concavely upwardly whereby each ice block is shallower at its ends than at its center.

15. The ice making and dispensing machine as defined in claim 13 in which the angle subtended between the surfaces of adjacent partition walls is approximately 2.

16. The ice making and dispensing machine as defined in claim 13 in which the partition walls are tapered so that the compartments are slightly wider at the top than at the bottom.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,717,504 9/1955 Knerr 62353 X 2,782,608 2/1957 French et a1 63-356 X 2,796,741 6/1957 Barton 62353 X 2,957,604 10/ 1960 Goldman et a1 62-353 X 2,981,079 4/1961 Fink 62--353 3,010,292 11/1961 Morton et a1 62-344 3,144,078 8/ 1964 Archer 62353 3,182,468 5/ 1965 Newberry 62353 ROBERT OLEARY, Primary Examiner.

W. E. WAYNER, Assistant Examiner. 

